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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through June 05, 2006 » Archive through June 05, 2006 » Daylight Riding - High or Low Beam Headlight Selection for Best Visibility To Cage Drivers « Previous Next »

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Slickster
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 09:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

BadWeB Team

During daylight riding which headlamp setting (high or low beam) is best for the cagers to see a biker. I am normally using high beam during daylight riding. Any thoughts or recommendations.

Thanks

Wayne
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Molly_hatchet
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 09:21 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i usualy keep my high beams on....i got sick of stupid people telling me i had a light out hahahaha......hard to imagine some idiot would have a hard time seein or hearing a big loud bright yellow bike but its feels like im freakin invisible to most cagers when i ride..i dont need my high beams on i need an atv flag and flashing blue and reds on top of my helmet.
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Cmm213
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 09:50 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My bike has had the switch stuck in the middle now for weeks, so both for me.
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Percyco
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 10:00 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

High beam on my Harley and both lights on my Buell. And I like the ATV flag idea too.

A friend of mine lays in a hospital in the Carolinas right now in critical condition. On his way to Myrtle Beach bike week a truck hit him from behind at a stop sign. The girl riding on the back was killed instantly. F%$#*@^ people in cars just don't watch .
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Chainsaw
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 11:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

In my experience with my Sporty, having my high beam masks my turn signal lights, which was leading to some close calls with cagers.

On the XB, I run both lights, both of which are high beams, both are aimed lower than stock.

(Message edited by chainsaw on June 04, 2006)
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Kurosawa
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 12:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I don't worry about the headlights, which are aimed per factory spec with Silverstars. What bugs me out is getting it from behind, which really creeps me out given that I can't see what's behind me with the stock mirrors (to be fixed Monday with Napoleons). A single 1157 just doesn't cut it. I bought the Radiantz 1.85" LED 1157 replacement cluster with their brake light modulator that I DIP-switched to strobe 1/2 sec, wait 1/2 sec, do that a total of 3 times, then go solid on. Feeling much better now about getting the attention of whoever's behind me. I may even add Hyperlites to the mix later. Remember, paranoia is an unreasonable fear.
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06xb12ss
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 01:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Both...
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Fontana_motorsports
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 01:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i turn off my headlights in the daytime,and i just run with the city light on,my taillight is always on though...i also did the h4 conversion on my bike so i have both lowbeams 55 watt and 2 high beams 60watt......after years of riding my 68 sportster, without a headlight, and riding my old zx11 with the headlight people still pull out in front of you just as much...they just think that since you are on a bike they "have enough room" i think running a pulsing lamp in the city light hole would be the best bet since it is not a steady beam...
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Vanvideo
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 02:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Always high beams during the day. Usually low beams during the night. If I'm in a secluded area with lots of intersections, like a neighborhood, I run with my high beams on at night. Of course, I dim them when traffic approaches.
If you're going down a dark stretch of country road at night, I've heard you should alternate high beam-low beam occasionally. Apparently, changing the brightness level can make a deer break its "caught in the headlights" paralysis, and it can run off the road before you smack into it.
Anybody know if this is true?
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Kurosawa
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 06:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Not that it applies to us, but interesting anyway: "Do not risk dodging a deer at any speed. Many crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or leave the road and roll over. Brake when you see a deer in the road, rather than try to avoid it. If you can't avoid a collision, release the brake at the time of impact, making it possible for the deer to go underneath the vehicle, rather than through the windshield." --From a Navy safety page.

OK, here ya go from Fairfax County: "If you encounter deer on the roadways, flash your head-lights at the deer and blow the horn to scare them away."

And they also write (bummer): "A deer is visible less than 200 feet from your vehicle; it takes a car about 317 feet to stop at 55 MPH under optimum conditions."


(Message edited by kurosawa on June 04, 2006)
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Blake
Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 11:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

High beam for sure. I sometimes modulate the headlight back and forth between high and low beam when approaching an intersection to help ensure the cars at the stop sign(s) see me.
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Spike
Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 11:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Definitely low beam here. Modern headlights work. High beams in on-coming traffic aren't just annoying, the hide the turn signals, cause target fixation, and force the other drivers to look away from the road.
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Bake
Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 12:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Sorry to hear about your friend Percyco!

I would like to see a headlight modulator that switches from high to low beam rapidly.
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